I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Bryan Robinson discuss his animation and filmmaking experiences. However, his suggestion that independent filmmaking is only beginning to take off in Baltimore is utterly absurd.

Independent filmmaking in B-more has a long history. Going back to 1964, John Waters began his career with a film titled “Hag in a Black leather Jacket.” He continued making indie films until the mid-’80s (when he moved a bit mainstream); all along, though, he has helped develop and nurture the film community that put Baltimore on the map as a filming locale.

Long before the Maryland Film Festival became the go-to event for indie film enthusiasts, the Baltimore Film Festival International (BFFI) was a vibrant annual event designed to “create sustainable support and promotion for local, student, independent, and international filmmakers.” (Quoted from BFFI website.) This organization and its activities go back at least to 1974 and continue to this day.

Moreover, the film program at UMBC has been in full swing — and helping to produce fine indie filmmakers — for over 40 years.

It’s not an accident that there is a huge community of film workers in this city. The very fact that so many of them are now middle-aged or seniors underscores how long B-more has been a haven for filmmakers from near and far, both indie and established.

So, while Mr. Robinson’s enthusiasm and activism on behalf of Baltimore’s indie film scene is exciting, his knowledge of local film history needs some polishing.